Galveston is an island city on the upper Texas Gulf Coast at the entrance to Galveston Bay, about 70 km by road from Houston's Hobby Airport. More about Galveston →
October 2026 · from today · all times local (Central Time)
Showing 10 of 14 calls in October
Today and the next 7 days · all times local (Central Time)
9% quieter than a typical day in Galveston. Busiest 08:00 – 15:00, when all 2 ships are alongside.
Thousands of people in port, guests plus crew. Crowd level compared with a typical Galveston day.
The crowd calendar shows every ship and how busy the port is, hour by hour, plus the quietest and busiest days for the next 90 days.
Ships dock at the Port of Galveston along Harborside Drive, on the island's bay side, directly beside historic downtown and the Strand. All ships dock alongside; there is no tendering.
There are four cruise terminals: Cruise Terminals 25 and 28 near 25th–28th Streets (Carnival, Disney, Princess), and Cruise Terminals 10 and 16 farther east at Piers 10 and 16 (Royal Caribbean, MSC, Norwegian). Terminals 10 and 25 are about 2 km apart (7–8 minutes by car), so give drivers the terminal number.
Downtown hotels near the Strand are about 0.5 km by road from Terminal 25, and the Gulf beaches on Seawall Boulevard are about 2–6 km away by car.
68–70 km · 50–55 min by car
Hobby is the closest airline airport to the port; almost everyone drives I-45 South over the Galveston Causeway, then follows Harborside Drive to the terminal. Uber and Lyft can drop off and pick up at the terminals, and there is no public bus or train to the port.
Typical prices, approximate. Fares change with demand, traffic and time of day.
Typical prices, approximate. Fares change with demand, traffic and time of day.
From Houston and the north and west, take I-45 South onto the island and follow Harborside Drive; drivers from the east can use I-10, Highway 87 and the Bolivar ferry. The terminals are spread along Harborside Drive, so confirm whether you sail from Terminal 10, 16, 25 or 28. Carnival transfers need flights after 1:30 pm on the way home. The Galveston Island Trolley does not stop at the port.
4 terminals
Royal Caribbean International's terminal at Pier 10, 1402 Harborside Drive, opened in 2022. It handles Oasis-class ships and is LEED Gold, LEED Zero Energy and LEED Zero Carbon certified, powered by on-site solar panels. It is about 2 km east of Terminal 25.
The port's newest terminal at 1602 Harborside Drive, opened Nov 7, 2025 in a converted cargo warehouse. It has a 165,000 sq ft terminal, two boarding bridges and an adjacent parking garage, and is used by MSC Cruises (MSC Seascape) and Norwegian Cruise Line (Norwegian Viva seasonally).
Formerly Terminal 1, at 2502 Harborside Drive across the street from several port parking lots and next to the Strand. It is primarily used by Carnival Cruise Line, with select Disney Cruise Line and Princess Cruises sailings.
Formerly Terminal 2, at 2702 Harborside Drive just west of Terminal 25. The port describes it as primarily used by Disney Cruise Line; its 2026 notices also list Carnival and Princess sailings here.
The Port of Galveston runs its own cruise parking on port property, patrolled 24/7 by Port Police, with separate lots and garages for Terminals 25/28, Terminal 10 and Terminal 16. Economy lots have free shuttles for passengers and luggage; the others are a short walk. Payment is by credit card only, reservations can be cancelled free up to 24 hours before sailing, and monthly promo codes and a loyalty program apply. The port says covered and close-in lots cost more than the economy shuttle lots. Private off-port lots exist but aren't affiliated with the port.
ADA spaces in all lots, first come first served. Disabled Veterans Discount Program available.
Pick the area first. Typical nightly prices, approximate.
Walk to the cruise terminals
Typical hotel
Historic downtown hotels a few minutes from the terminals, with Strand restaurants nearby.
Beachfront stays and value
Typical hotel
Gulf-front hotels about 10 minutes from the port; many offer cruise parking packages.
Halfway between airport and port
Typical hotel
Lower rates halfway between Houston and Galveston, near Kemah and Space Center Houston.
Late arrivals and early flights
Typical hotel
Late flights in or early flights out of Houston Hobby, about 50 minutes from the port.
Rates climb during summer, spring break and festivals such as Mardi Gras Galveston.
Prices are approximate. Texas sales tax is added to menu prices, and a tip of about 18–20% is customary at table service.
Historic downtown cafés and restaurants a few minutes from the terminals.
Waterfront seafood restaurants next to the cruise terminals.
Gulf-front seafood restaurants and diners near the beach hotels.
Galveston is an island city on the upper Texas Gulf Coast at the entrance to Galveston Bay, about 70 km by road from Houston's Hobby Airport. Its historic Strand/Mechanic district, once called the 'Wall Street of the Southwest', is lined with Victorian-era commercial buildings from 1875–1899 that now hold shops, restaurants and galleries.
Along the Gulf side, Seawall Boulevard runs past beaches, hotels and the Historic Pleasure Pier, while Moody Gardens' glass pyramids sit on the island's west side. The waterfront is home to the 1877 tall ship ELISSA, and the island is known for Victorian homes, Mardi Gras and Dickens on the Strand.
Galveston is the only cruise homeport in Texas and one of the busiest in the U.S., with ships sailing mainly to the Caribbean and the Bahamas.
-720x450.webp)
Galveston's 19th-century commercial district, right beside Terminals 25 and 28, with Victorian iron-front buildings full of shops and restaurants. At its waterfront edge, the Galveston Historic Seaport displays the 1877 tall ship ELISSA, one of only three ships of her kind that still sail.
An amusement pier over the Gulf with rides, midway games and food, set on the Seawall about 2 km (7 minutes by car) from Terminal 25. Beaches stretch along Seawall Boulevard on either side.
A family attraction with three glass pyramids, including an aquarium and a rainforest, about 10 km (20 minutes by car) from the terminals. It works well for a pre- or post-cruise day.
The official visitor center of NASA Johnson Space Center, with spaceflight exhibits and tram tours. It sits off I-45 about 50 km (35 minutes) from the port, between the island and both Houston airports.